Ice-making apparatus



NOV. 18, 1952 J, D w 5, JR 2,618,129

' ICE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 CONDENSCR Znwentor uss ss DALLAS W/LL/AM5,J

1952 J. D. WILLIAMS, JR 2,618,129

ICE-MAKING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Zhmentor 92;: 6 JESSE D ALLAS W/LL4AM-fic7k.

Mn WW Gttorneg Patented Nov. 18, 1952 ICE-MAKING APBARATHSD' Jesse: 1).; Williams,., J -r-., Shi'velsQ Ky as sjgnorz to. Henry. VogtMachine Company, Louisville, Ky., a orporation of Ken u ky;

Application Mayr26, 1949; IS erialeNoe 95:55}?

(c1. Gal- 1:96);

6. Claims,

like:n esent: ny ntio rrmlatesrte; mprorea hr he; cons, uct on and; method; oi: opera? ticnpi,tuheicemach nes In the apparatus of U.vS;11?atent No. 2423 234, issuedv April; 22; 19441.. to, Kuba-ugh for Ice; Freeze; ing; Apparatus;. during the thawingcyclev hot. aseous: refrigerant is admitted at the top of the; ezraporator to expel liquid, refrigerant and thaw the: ice; rods; free; from, the. ice. tubes. The ireezina'zone. of: the: evaporator extends; beyond the; lower physical; confines of? the evaporator eompartmentzrvbym reason of: the heat; conductivity.- of; the; tubes; and; in order to quickly: release the ice. IZQdSat: the; lower end of the freezing zone,

and prevent ice formation on, the lower: freezer: 1

thQijce tubes are extendeds'belowthefreezer ole-evaporator: compartment-and are embraced by: as chflimberr at the;- bottom, separate; from: the;

evaporation through.whichchamber-- warm Wihllfl'a isacirculatediduring thelthawing cyclei 'l hewarm Aziiurther object.) isthe provision of ice-f,"

machine which operates at an; increased; heme em'e enerfurther: obj ect, is: the provision ofic'an ice maker ingrmachine inwhich the-thawing of the ice tubes: is" accomplished without: the introduction oiex-ri traneousheatzinto: the thermodynamic vcycle.

Another object is theprovision 015 an ice makingsmachinein'whi'ch freezingat: the lowerends Of theioe tubes: is substantially preventedidunsv ing-- the: freezing cycle.

accordancezwith. the present, invention. the introduction; of" such extraneous. heath the hennpdynam e system; of: the refri erator is: tedzby applyingwarm, refrigerantgin liquiddig whi h extendbe ow t e r ezin chamb r n-tha evaigoxzators The heating action; o f the warm re;

meme, may be confine o hawin cyc e.-

ion the purpose of thawing; theice in the tubes or I V theheatine; actiontmar occur dur ng the treating-g asecus steteat he ower; ends: of, the. ice t bes,

re- .2.; in; which thaheat; h s; ed; s staniia lr revents freezin -at .thelowene h ubes: dur n he; r zmecle-Vv t; dc heatma e a eddurin ronly ec la r-me be applied; n. b th e. freezin and; thaw ve. ycles; T e nv n i n, m y be ap l ed o; a. absor tion or compre si n ype r e ret' i'steir and iquid; reir e nt is sup l d to.v yapo at r amher duri he re in cycle at he requi e rate. byanr sui ab-lecont-roi meanev nh yine t e nt on tea compression type; em, he: e tin -o the e ri e ant; as s: 111-1 ei nta z o s com res io and hewa maaseeusa i 'e r nt: ma e pp ied: ar und; hetottom; e: 0f"; e qeatubes substan ial rat he same. i ha the f e r ,s.aund r ne-. h hawin c le, app icat on f. efr r nt-an he ot ase s-sta e be; an inu t m nd t e n s f: rice tu s'dur nethe f e ingcyclei q m.- mar be; app ied. in limited amo n in-me; both; the thawing-"and freezing cycles. Or, by; a. im-ri e ar an ement: warm iq idfr ee n is; suppliedaround; thebotl om 0f the tubes durin thefree in ycl ther by prevent. freezing at the; bottoms of thetubes;

The invention will be described, inv greater-deep tail in connection withthe accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example, and wherein:

Eigure 1. is; a iraementam ection hron -h; a ireezh i,

Ei zu el 21 a iagrammat viewi lns atma n emb d ment. i; heinv ntiom F gur i v a di gr ma i vie medifles:

Fi ure: is, iaer nima ie iew- Q i a i r her mo tion) Figureisa ec ona1 v ew o amo fie trache taken on line 5,15 of liigure} 6',

i ur 6 is a ragm ary ve cal; sectional view, taken on, line 6-. 6V0f Figure Errand- Figure? is a view similar to Figure 6.0i acmodir-i ficationeferring, to: F gu e efree er l qf the i e mak g, ma ine o d s ice ubes, 2, throu h wh i h a e ofre nfl s d nwardly. surrounded, by a. freezer or evaporator chamber. 3., ad ptedt r ce i i re r ant- The-.- freezing occurs, by evaporation of the. liquid re-i r enan ro i c am s The t bes 2 tend past thebottom header 4.01? the ireezer 9. 7 a short distance, and extend through fiqond; header 5,. Thespacet between the headers pro-1 ide a heatin hamber or eception at: idi

' aboye freez netemnerature sat-ha heheatsnhr plied to the lower ends of the tubes prevents freezing over at the bottoms of the tubes or accumulation of ice on the header 5. A water distributing chamber I at the top of the freezer supplies water to the tubes 2 through suitable distributing orifices. The chamber 3 is connected at the bottom by a conduit 1 through a float chamber 8 (Figure 2) and automatic control valve 9 to a transfer drum II which serves to store the liquid refrigerant during the thawing cycle. The automatic control valve 9 and float chamber 8 are described and claimed in the application of Archie Fulkerson, Serial No. 773,421, filed September 11, 1947, for Fluid Flow Controller.

The top of the transfer drum is connected by a conduit I2 having a solenoid operated valve l3 therein to the intake side of the compressor I4, so that vapor therefrom is returned to the intake side of the compressor. A conduit I5 having a solenoid valve I6 therein also is connected between the freezing chamber 3 above the level of liquid refrigerant therein and the intake side of compressor Id. The gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator is reconditioned in known manner for return to the evaporator. In the modification illustrated the compressed gas leaving the compressor by conduit II passes through a condenser I8 where it is liquefied and then enters a receiver I9 where it is stored until required. The conduit 2| is connected between the outlet side of compressor I4 and the thawing chamber 6, by way of condenser I8 and receiver I9, and a conduit 22 having a float operated valve 23 therein is con nected between chamber 6 and transfer drum I I. Another conduit 24 having a solenoid operated valve 25 therein is connected between conduits -l I and 15 to thereby connect the outlet side of the compressor to the freezer chamber 3. The solenoid operated valves may be replaced by any Operation The flow of liquid and gases in the operation of the apparatus is indicated by solid and dotted arrows, respectively. During the freezing cycle valve I6 is open and valves I3 and 25 are closed, so that the compressor applies suction to the evaporating compartment 3 through conduit I5.

and thereby causes valve 9 to open, so that liquid refrigerant is drawn from transfer drum I into the evaporator compartment. The amount of liquid refrigerant in chamber 3 is such that its level is below conduit I5. Under reduced pressure some of the liquid refrigerant in compartment 3 volatilizes, the heat of evaporation being supplied mainly from the water trickling down through the ice tubes, which thereupon freezes to the walls of the tubes in a hollow cylinder or shell. The gaseous refrigerant drawn by conduit 15 to the inlet side of the compressor is compressed thereby, and then flows to the condenser I8 where it is liquefied, at a temperature of about 75-90 F., the exact temperature depending on operating conditions. The liquefied refrigerant is stored in receiver I9 under pressure until needed and is automatically fed to the freezer chamber 3 by float operated feed valve 23 by way of warming chamber 6 and transfer drum -II. Feed valve 23 is a known type of float operated valve provided with a vented bell float, so that as long as the liquid level is maintained its outlet valve is open. Accumulation of gas in the bell causes the bell to rise and operate the valve to cut off flow. Thus, valve 23 automatically regulates the flow of liquid refrigerant in accordance with the accumulation of liquid in the receiver. During the freezing phase the heat supplied to the lower ends of the tubes by the warm liquified refrigerant in chamber 6 substantially prevents freezing at the bottom of the tubes.

At the end of the freezing cycle valves I3 and 25 are opened, and valve I6 is closed, so that warm compressed gas from the discharge side of the compressor is introduced into the top of freezer chamber 3 by conduits I1 and 24. This gas, which is maintained under pressure, forces the liquid refrigerant downwardly out of the freezer through conduit I into the transfer drum II, while suction is applied to the transfer drum through conduit I2 to assist in the transfer of liquid refrigerant and carry off vapors. The refrigerant gas introduced into freezer 3 is under pressure at a temperature of about -190 F., depending on operating conditions, and thaws the ice rods from the tubes to release them, so that they fall out of the tubes at the bottoms. At the end of the thawing cycle, valves I3 and 25 are closed and valve I6 is opened, whereupon suction is applied to the chamber 3 by the pump through conduit I5 and valve It to draw liquid refrigerant into the freezing chamber from the transfer drum, and the freezing cycle is repeated as above described.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the warm liquefied refrigerant from receiver I9 is supplied by conduit 2'! containing feed valve 23 directly to the transfer drum II.'

The high pressure side of the pump is connected by a conduit 28 to Warming chamber 6, and from there is conducted by conduit 29 containing solenoid valve 3I and conduit I5 to the top of the freezer chamber 3 (Figure 1); In this modification, during the freezin cycle, valves 3| and I3 are closed while valve I6- is open so that the compressor draws gas from the evaporator. During the thawing cycle valve I5 is closed and valves 3| and I3 are open so that the Warm compressed refrigerant gas, passes first through heating chamber 6 to thaw the bottoms of the ice cylinders, and then to the top of chamber 3 to expel liquid refrigerant and thaw the ice cylinders loose from the tubes. By supplying hot gaseous refrigerant to chamber 6 the thawing at the boting chamber 6 at the lower ends of the ice tubes,

and a conduit 36 connects the heating chamber with the condenser I8. During the freezing cycle valves I3 and 3I are closed while valve I6 is open, and gas is drawn from the evaporator chamber through valve I6 in conduit I5 to the compressor. The stream of hot compressed gas from the high pressure side of the compressor is divided, part The thawing in chambers going through conduit IT to the condenser I8. The part flowing through conduits 24 and 35 to the heating chamber 6 serves to prevent freezing in the lower ends of the tubes, and from this chamber it flows by conduit 36 to condenser l8.

During the thawing cycle, valves 3! and I3 are open and valve I6 is closed, and the gas introduced into the evaporator from the compressor by conduit 24 expels the liquid refrigerant into transfer drum I I. At the same time gas continues to now by conduit 35 to heating chamber 9, and by conduit 36 to the condenser [8. The gas drawn by conduit I2 from the transfer drum passes through the compressor and is distributed by conduits 24 and 35 to the evaporator and to the lower chamber 6. Thus it will be seen that the flow of warm gas to the lower ends of the ice tubes occurs in both the freezing and thawing cycles, the flow of gas being suitably proportioned to avoid excessive heating of the ice tubes. Thus, if desired, the flow of heat to the lower ends of the ice tubes during the freezing cycle can be such as to allow slight freezing, with thawing taking place in the thawing cycle.

The construction of the freezer may be modified to provide only a single header t at the bottom, in which case the heating chamber is formed by a tubing surrounding the lower ends of the ice tubes. Referring to Figure 5, a tube 38 is Wound around the ends of the ice tubes in heat exchange relation thereto. The tube 38 is covered by a layer of poor heat conducting material 39, such as parafiine, to a suitable depth so that the heat supplied from tubes 33 can prevent ice formation on the bottom 3 and in the lower ends of the tubes. The heat is conducted upward along the ice tubes and the depth of insulating layer 39 should not be so great as to allow freezing at too great a distance below the top surface of the layer. Freezing at too great a depth will increase the time required to release the ice from the tubes, and will result in excessive melting of the ice in the upper ends of the tubes during the thawing cycle. The inlet 49 for Warm refrigerant may be connected to conduit 2| in Figure 2; or to conduit 28 in Figure 3; or to conduit 35 in Figure 4, and the outlet M will be suitably connected according to the modification employed.

In Figures 5 and 6 the coil 33 is located on the evaporator side of the header 4, and the insulating layer 39 is on the same side. However, if desired, the ice tubes 2 may be extended beyond the header 4 at 42, as shown in Figure 7, and the coil 36 then is located exterior of the header around the extended ends 42 of the tubes. The insulation layer 39 may be interposed between the header 4 and the coil as shown, or may be located below the coil 4!], or in some cases may be omitted.

I claim as my invention:

1. A freezing apparatus operating on alternate freezing and thawing phases, comprising: a vertical tube internally accommodating the downward flow of a liquid to be solidified; supply means for feeding said liquid to the upper portion of the tube during the freezing phase; shell means providing a chamber around the upper portion of the tube adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant during the freezing phase, with the lower end portion of the tube projecting beyond the evaporator chamber; refrigerant reconditioning means including a condenser connected to the evaporator chamber to recondition vapor drawn from said chamber and promote the evaporation of liquid refrigerant in said chamber so as to refrigerate said tube and solidify said medium into a rod therein; means for supplying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to said evaporating chamber during the freezing phase; means operative during the thawing phase to introduce Warm gas into the evaporating chamber to thaw the rod loose from the upper part of the tube and promote the gravitational discharge cf the rod through the bottom end portion of the tube; means providing a thawing compartment around the projecting lower end portion of the tube; and means for introducing warm refrigerant fluid into said thawing compartment from the refrigerant reconditioning means during at least one of said phases to supply heat to prevent any solidified material from adhering to said lower end portion of the tube so as to enable said rod to begin to discharge from the lower end of the tube as soon as it is thawed loose from the upper part thereof.

2. The freezing apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said thawing compartment is connected to the refrigerant reconditioning means below the liquid refrigerant level in the condenser to supply warm liquid refrigerant to the thawing compartment.

3. The freezing apparatus of claim 1 having a valve controlled conduit means between the thawing compartment and the evaporating chamber for the flow of warm refrigerant fluid in sequence through the thawing compartment and evaporating chamber.

4. The freezing apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the means for introducing warm refrigerant fluid into the thawing compartment comprises a branch connection between the thawing compartment and the means to introduce warm gas into the evaporating chamber during the thawing phase.

5. The freezing apparatus of claim 4 having an additional conduit means connected between the thawing compartment and the refrigerant reconditioning means above the level of liquid refrigerant for flow of refrigerant fluid from the thawing compartment to the condenser.

6. The freezing apparatus as specified in claim 2 having a valve controlled conduit means between the thawing compartment and the evaporator chamber for the flow of warm liquid refrigerant in sequence through the thawing compartment to the evaporating chamber.

JESSE D. WILLIAMS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 962,241 Ray June 21, 1910 1,936,575 Barrett et a1 Nov. 28, 1933 2,135,091 Newill Nov. 1, 1938 2,221,212 Wussow et a1 Nov. 12, 1940 2,239,234 Kubaugh Apr. 22, 1941 2,280,320 Taylor Apr. 21, 1942 2,387,899 Gruner Oct. 30, 1945 

